Conveyer



Nov. 22, 1927.

A. RUCKSTAHL ET AL Filed Jan. 11, 1926 45' Q N N coNvEYER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lli" I l@MLX/im;

A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 22, 192.7.

A. RUCKSTAHL ET AL CONVEYER Filed Jan. ll. 1926 3 sheets-snoei 2 A TTORNEY.

Nov. 2?, "1927. 1,649,926

. A. RUCKSTAHL ET AL @y `w N Panarea Nav. "z2, 1927.

y UNITED] sTiATEs 1,649,926 PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED BUCKSTAHL AND RUEL T. CADWELL, OF DETBOIT,IICHIGAN, .ASBIGNORS TO HOLCBOFT AND COMPANY, OF DETBiOIT, MICHIGAN, .L CORPORATION Ol' MICHI- GAN.

CON Vm.

appiiaaiian man January ,11, 192s. serial no. ao,soo.

This invention relates to conveyers and the object of the invention is to provide a conveyer particularly for use in heat treating furnaces in which the heat of the furnace does not alect the operation of the conveyer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyer in which the articles being .heat treated are carried by the conveyer units and are prevented from coming into contact with any stationary part of the furnace.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method by which the heat of the conveyer parts is absorbed by the articles to be heated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyer in which the conveyer units are not connected together but are moved through the furnace 1n end to end relation and areereturned in the ysame manner automatically. v

The ordinary chain conveyer is impractical for .this use in a heat treating furnace because the metal will expand and stretch under heat and itis impossible to lubricate a conveyer of this type on account of the heat thus causing frequent failures of the conveyer and consequent costly shut downs of the furnace.

VThese objectsand the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the referred form of construction by which t ese objects are attained is shown in the accompanying. drawings in whichv Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a heat treating kfurnace embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2`2 of Fig. 1. Y 'i l Fig. 3 is lan enlarged section through the device for returning the conveyer units.

Fig.4 isa perspective view of the return end of one ofthe rails.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing the transferring mechanism for the conveyer.

The electricfurnace as shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a series of heating elements'l which are positioned in compartments above and below the conveyer rails 2. These conveyer rails 2 as shownl in Figs. 1 and 2 are.

supported on 'the partitions 3 between the heating elements and are substantially H sha d cross section, as shown in Fig. a p ate 4 bein secured across the bottom of each rail.

my be made integral with' the rail to provi e an enclosed channel for the conveyer units. These rails 2 extend longitudinall ofthe furnace and are each provided with' I desired instead lof using the plate 4 on the bottom of the rail this part The mechanism for moving thegconveyer units alon the rails consists of an4 electric motor 7 s ownv in Fig; 1 whichv drives the worm 8. A worm gear 9 meshes with the worm 8 and is rotatable on the axis 10. A pitman 11 is pivoted .to the worm gear l9 at 12 and at the opposite end is pivotally connected to lthe lever 13 at the int 14.` This lever 13 is pivoted at 15 an is pivotally connected at the upper end to a mem ber 16 which is movable longitudinally the vrespective rail 2. As shown in Flg. 5 a plunger 17 is provided having a st em 18 which as shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a l roller 19 riding on the cam 20 secured to rotate withthe worm gear 9. With the parts in the position shown in Fi 1 the plunger 17 is in the position shown in Fig. 5 and as the roller 19 moves onto the high part of the cam 20 the plunger 17 raises the `lrespective conveyer unit 6 into alignment with the end of the member 16. At this time the lever 13 is turned on its pivot by means of the pitman 11 and moves the several conveyer units 6 along the res ctive rail groove 5 a distance veyer unit. ue to the worm and worm gear this action is' icomparatively. 1slow and as the roller 19 .rides onto the succeeding Ilow part of the cam 20 the member v16 is returned to the position shown in Figs. 1 Aand 5. As the conveyer units are moved along the rail groove 5 by the member 16 the tube section at the end falls through the opening 21 in the end of the rail onto the eual to the ength of one con-` plate 4 shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown 1n Fig. 1 a bar 22 extends the full length of the furnace and is pivotally connected at 23 to the lower end of the lever 13 while at the opposite end the bar 22 is connected at 24 to the lever 25. rlhis lever 25 is pivotally mounted `at 26 on a bracket 27 extending from the furnace Wall and at the upper end as shown in Fig. 3 is 'votally connected to a block 41 which 1s slidable on the plunger 28 and is prevented froml coming on' from the plunger 28 by the nut 42. The plunger 28 1s provided with a collar 43 and a spring 44 is positioned between the collar 43 and block 41. By this arrangement if one of the conveyer units sticks in the lower conduit movement of the lever 25 only com resses the spring 44 and does not damage t e rail. When the member 16 is moved to the right of Fig. 1 it moves the conveyerunits to the right and at the same time the plunger 28 is Withdrawn from be' neath the opening 21 in the rail 2 allowing the conveyer unit at the end to fall eonto the plate 4. As the member 16 is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 andthe plunger 17 is lreturned to the position shown in Fig. 5 the plunger 28 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 which moves theconveyer units in the lower channel to the left of Figs. 1 and 3 thus placing a succeeding conveyer unit on the plunger 17. As this plunger is again raised by the cam 20 the member 16 again moves the conveyer units to the right while the plunger 28 is again withdrawn to allow the succeeding tube section to drop through the opening 2.1 onto the plate 4 in front 0f the plunger 28. As each conveyer unit is moved onto the top of the rail 2 by the member 16 an article to be heat treated such as a spring leaf is' positioned on the companion conveyer units on the several rails 2 and is moved into the furnace on these respective conveyer units. By this arrangement the conve er units are continuously returned lwithout eing connected togetherso that a conveyer is 'provided vwhich will operate perfectly under the intense heat utilized in heat treating. The heat treated articles may be re' moved through the door 30sh0wn inuFig.

1 and a peep hole 31 may be provided in the end of the furnace. A

One of the important features of this invention is that `the conveyer units which sup-V port the articles bein heat treated do not need to be cooled so t at a considerable saving. in heat is eifectedlas about 100 pounds of conveyer units are moved through the furnace every fifteen minutes. With this type of conveyer odd shaped pieces ma be conveyled through the furnace as we as straig t pieces. In ordinary heat treating furnaces the articles being heat treated are slid along the rails instead of being con- ,ferent forms.

extra work removing heat treating process. These rails may also be formed to utilize conveyer units of dif- For instance, the conveyer 'units may be made in the shape of shallow pans on which small articles such as sprin s, washers, bolts and similar articles maye carried through the furnace for heat treatment. l

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the ldevice is very simple and efficient in operation, will not easily get out of order, provides a conveyer in which the conveying units are not connected to ether and further provides a device whic accomplishes the objects described.

Having thus fully.described our invention, its utility and mode of operation, what .We claim and desire to .secure by Letters vPatent of the United States is- 1 conveyer for heat treating furnaces comprising a rail extending longitudinally through the furnace and having an upper and a lower way extendin longitudinally thereof, a worm, means or driving the worm, a worm gear meshing with the worm, a lever pivotally mounted at one end of the furnace intermediate its ends, a pitman pivotally connected to the lever and to the worm gearfa plungeron the upper endlof the lever riding in the upper -Way of Athe rail, a lever'pivotally mounted intermediate y its ends at the opposite end of the furnacey and carrying a\plun er adaptedfor move- 2. A conveyer comprising a rail havingA an 'upper and al lower way extending longitudinally thereof, a series of conveyer units posltloned in end to endk relationl in the ways, a lever pi'votally mounted at each end 0f the rail, one lever having a means for engaging the units inA the upper 'way and the other lever having a meansA for engagmg the units in the lower way, an arm pivotally connecting the levers together, a worm, means for driving the worm, a worm gear meshing with the worm, a pitman connecting the .worm gear and one of the levers, a cam rotatable with the worm, a plunger riding on the cam and' adapted to raise the conveyer units at one end of the rail in succession from the lower way to the upper way, the opposite end of the rail being provided with an opening through which the unitsmay pass from the 'upper way to the lower way.

3. A' conveyer comprising a rail having,

vmeans for transferring the conveyer units from one. way tothe other at each end` of the rail.

4. In a conveyer, a series of rails each having an upper and lowerfway extending longitudinally thereof, a series of conveyer units positioned in end to end-.relation'm the said wa s, a lever pivotally mounted at each end o therails, one leverv having an end engaging the conveyer units in the upper way of the-respective rail and the other lever having an end engaging the conveyer units in the, lower way of the said rail, a

worm gear, means for driving the worm gear, and a pitman. pivotally connected to the worm gear and adapted to osclllate the levers on their pivots.

5. A conveyer comprisino` a series of rails each having an upper and lower way extending ylongitudinally thereof, a serles of conveyer umts positioned in end to end relation in the said ways, a lever pivotally mounted at eac-h end of the rails, an arm connecting the levers together at the lower ends, means for oscillating the levers on their pivots to alternately move the conveyer units in the upper and lower ways and means for transferring the conveyer units from one way to the other.

6. In a conveyer, the combination with a furnace having a heatingchamber therein, of a series of rails extending Iinto the furnace longitudinally of the chamber, each rail having an upper open way and a lower closed way directly therebeneath, a series of conveyer units consisting of short lengths of tubinor positioned in end to end engagementin Lboth of said ways, alternately operated means for moving the conveyer units in one direction in one way and in the opposite direction in the other way, automatically operated means for raising the 'conveyer units in succesio from the lower way to the upper way in timed relation with said alternately operated means, the rail being provided with an opening at the -discharge end of the upper way through which the conveyerunits'may fall by gravity into the lower way.

7 In a conveyer, the combi-n ation with a furnace having a heating chamber therein, of a series of rails extending into the furnace longitudinally of-the chamber, each rail having an upper open way and a lower closed way directly therebeneath, a series of conveyer units positionedin end to end engagement in the said ways, alternately operated means for moving the conveyer u n'its in one direction in one way and in the opposite direction in the other way,A automatically operated means for raising the conveyer units in succession from the lower way to the upper way in timed relation with said alternately operated means, the rail being provided with an opening at the dischar e end of the upper way throughwhicht e conveyer lunits may fall into the lower way.

8. A conveyer comprising a rail having an upper way therein arcuate in cross section and a second way directly therebeneath,

-a series of conveyer units consisting of short lengths of tubing positioned in end-to end engagement in both the said ways, "automatically operated means for moving the conveyer units in one direction in one way and'in the opposite direction in thelotherl way in alternate relation, automat-ic means operating in timed relation with the aforesaid means for raising the 'conveyer units in. succession from theiower way to the upper way at one end ofthe rail, the rail being provided with an o ening at the opposite end thereof between t e upper way and the lower way through which the conveyer units may ldirection in one way and in the opposite direction in the other way, automaticallyoperated means for raising the conveyer units in succession from the lower way to the upper way, the rail being provided with an opening at the dischargeend of the upper way through which the conveyer units may fall into t e lower way.

l0. A conveyer comprising a rail having an upper way therein open at the top side and a lower closed way directly therebeneath, a series of conveyer units positioned in end to end engagement in the said ways, the conveyer units in the upper way extending above the upper surface of the rail, automatically operated means for transferring 1 having the conveyer units one at a t-ime from one way to the other, and automatic means operating in timed relationv with the transferring means for moving the units longitudinally of the ways.

11. A onveyer comprising a rail having an upper way therein open at the topv side and a lower Way closed on the sides, a series of conveyer units positioned in end to end engagement in the said ways, means for feeding the conveyer units in one direction in one way and in the opposite direction in the other Way, automatically operated means for .raising the conveyer units in succession -from the lower way to the upper way,V the rail being provided with an opening at the discharge end of the upper way through which the conveyer units may fall by gravity into the lower way.

In testimony whereof we sign this specilication.

ALFRED RUCKSTAHL. RUEL T. CADWELL. 

